The Purple Heart medal is presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. A Purple Heart is a solemn distinction and means a service member has greatly sacrificed themselves, or paid the ultimate price, while in the line of duty. Today, U.S. service members of any rank who have been wounded or killed in enemy action are qualified to receive a Purple Heart medal. Thanks to Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the Purple Heart officially received its modern-day look and name in 1932. A few years later in 1942, President Roosevelt and the War Department further defined the qualifications for receiving a Purple Heart, designating it for those who were wounded or killed in action. They also expanded the eligibility of the award to all military branches of service and gave authorization to present posthumous Purple Heart medals. During the Revolutionary War, Continental Army soldiers William Brown and Elijah Churchill were the first soldiers to receive the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor to the Purple Heart. Other famous Purple Heart recipients include actors (such as James Arness, Charles Bronson, James Garner, Rod Serling), writers (Kurt Vonnegut, Oliver Stone), athletes (Warren Spahn, Pat Tillman, Rocky Bleier), and even animals Sgt. Stubby the dog and Sgt. Reckless the horse. President John F. Kennedy is the only U.S. president with a Purple Heart.
Since the time of war, Veterans have been brain wounded in battle, but their “invisible wounds” have never been recognized until now. This pin has been created to recognize those who have been invisible brain injured and have successfully completed the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatment program to heal their invisible wounds. Every Veteran completing the HBOT4KYVETS, Inc treatment program will be awarded a pin upon completion of the program and have the option of having their names listed here on our website amongst the brave who have sacrificed for our country.